Rolling mill



W. J. HILL ROLLING MILL July 13, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1960 INVENTOR. YI/ 'ZZiam Hill BY 0 ney in ii.

W. J. HlLL' ROLLING MILL July 13, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001;. 10, 1960 INVENTOR.

William HIZZ BY fl l o'rey July 13, 1965 w. J. HILL 3,194,045

ROLLING MILL Filed Oct. 10, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 1, INVENTOR.

William Hill July 13, 1965 w. J. HlLL 3,194,045

ROLLING MILL Filed Oct. 10, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Zl/iZZiaxm HI'ZZ y 3, 1965 w. J. HILL 3,194,045

ROLLING MILL Filed Oct. 10, 1960 7 sheet's sheet 6 INVENTOR. William HI'ZZ ZZMWZ H o nay July 13, 1965 w. J. HILL 3,194,045

ROLLING MILL Filed Oct. 10, 1960 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I I I09 IN VEN TOR.

' MY/ l7 0 y United States Patent 3,194,045 RGLLIPJG MILL William J. Hill, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Morgan Construction (Iompany, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Oct. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 61,574 17 Claims. (Ci. 72-238) This invention relates to a rolling mill and more particularly to apparatus having vertical rolls for the forming and attenuation of metal.

In a continuous rolling mill, it is advantageous at certain points in the rolling schedule to make use of a roll stand having vertical rolls. Such a vertical mill is shown in the US. Patent to Hill et al. No. 2,583,844. Among other beneficial aspects of the use of such a mill is the fact that it does away with the necessity of twisting the material to be rolled. However, certain problems arise in the construction and use of a vertical mill that are not encountered in the design of a horizontal mill. One serious problem encountered with such a mill is that, in order to repair or replace the elements associated with the rolls and the driving connection, it is usually necessary to remove them vertically; the spindles, for instance, can usually only be removed by first withdrawing the guide frames with the spindles suspended from them; a very high building is required in order to support a crane capable of clearing the guide frames and the suspended spindles from the top of the mill housing. A building of this sort is extremely expensive and, of course the crane must have a weight-carrying ability equal to the weight of the guide frames and the spindles along with the associated couplings etc. Furthermore in vertical mills of this type in the past the sliding surfaces existing between the supporting base posts and the mill frame have been exposed and subject to considerable maintenance difliculty. It will be understood that any difiiculty or delay in replacing rolls, couplings, spindies, and similar elements of the mill causes the mill down-time to be increased with the result that on occasion the entire continuous mill must await the completion of the work on a single vertical roll stand. This results in a very unsatisfactory economical situation in that very large capital assets are unproductive for the length of time that the mill is out of operation. These and other difiiculties experienced in the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide a rolling mill of the vertical type in which the overhead height needed for disassembly of the rolls and drive elements is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a vertical rolling mill having an improved and novel supporting structure.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a vertical rolling mill having novel structure for suspending the drive spindles.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a vertical rolling mill having a simple and rugged construction which will be capable of a long life of useful service, but, nevertheless, requires only a short time for the disassembly and replacement of parts.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a vertical rolling mill in which the rolls and spindles are carried in a vertical guide member and in which it is not necessary to disconnect complicated hydraulic systems for the roll hearings in order to remove the spindles and couplings.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

The character of the invention, however, may be best FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a base portion of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the mill; FIG. 6 is a view of the mill taken on the line VIVI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the mill taken on the line VIIVII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a perspective View of a guide rail of the mill;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a shelf, or third chock and spindle of the mill;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line X-X of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line XI-XI of FIG. 9. I

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 wherein are best shown the general features of the invention, it'can be seen that the rolling mill, indicated generally by the reference numeral'ltl, is mounted on a concrete foundation 11. The mill consists generally 'of a housing structure 12 mounted for vertical movement on a base 13 and driven by a motor (not shown) through a pinion and gear drive housing 14 located in a well or cellar 19 formed in the foundation 11. Two rolls 15 and 16 are mounted in thehousing structure 12 and are driven by spindles 17 and 18 respectively which connect the drive housing 14 to the rolls. The cellar 19 formed in the foundation 11 to hold the drive housing 14 is provided with passages 21 and 22 which lead out of the cellar for various purposes. From FIG. 3 one looks through the passage 22 where the input shaft 23 of the gear drive is evident. The drive housing 14 contains the usual bevel gear and mill pinions for speedreduction for right angle change of direction and for division of input power between the two spindles 17 and 18. Such gearing is well known and does not form a part of the present invention.

Mounted at one end of the housing structure 12 on the upper surface of the foundation 11 is a motor 24, shown in FIG. 1, which is connected through a gear unit 25 to a generally vertical spindle 26 which drives the 'roll adjusting, mechanism on one side of the mill. In a similar way, a motor 27, shown in FIG. 3, is mounted on the base 11 and is connected through a gear unit 28 to'a spindle 29 which drives the roll adjusting mechanism on the other side of the mill. One end of the housing structure 12 is provided with a ladder 31, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to assist the operator in climbing to the upper surface of the housing. Furthermore, guard rails 32, 33 and 34 extend around the edge of the upper surface of the housing structure 12 to prevent the operator from falling off. In FIG. 1 it can be seen that the roll .15 is mounted in a pair of checks 35 and 36 and that the upper chock 35 is provided with pivoted links 37 and 38 to which a crane may be attached. In the same way, the roll 16 is mounted in a pair of chocks 39 and 41 and the upper chock 39 is pro: vided with pivoted links 42 and 43. Evident in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7 are guide rails 44 and 45 into which the chooks 35 and 36 and chocks 39 and 41, respectively, are slidably lowered. Referring now to FIG. 4, which shows the construction of the base 13, it can be seen that a rectangular sub-frame 46 is provided consisting of two side members 47 and 48. Joining these two side members are two end members 49 and 51 from which upwardly extend, respectively, posts indicated generally at 52 and 53. The end members 49 and 51 are also joined together by girder members 54 and 55. Each of the posts 52 and 53 is of elongated vertisliding.

cal form and is of generally. rectangular cross-section with" the long dimension extending parallel to the roll pass and 7 'normal to the associated end member. The post 52 is provided with a vertical slot 56, and the post ,53 is provided with a. similar slot 57. The' upper ends of "the 7 posts 52"and 53 are provided with suitable grooves .indi- V cated atf124 :and' 126respectively which open .into' the.

slots 56 and 5710 provide for .the introduction of blocks 66 and 68 .(see FIG; 6). which when'properly bolted int place render the posts" substantially solid. The girder members 54 and 55 are provided with upper horizontal surfaces 58' and 59, respectively,v to receive the rolling mill guide stand. 'Whilethe posts 52 311C153 have herein-g. before been described as being. vertically slotted at 56 and 57, it will be understood that they may be described as two pairs of posts, thepost-s of eachpair'being spaced in the direction of the pass line.

. To the opposite sides of the post 52 are attached finely 5 machined plates.61 and 62, while similar pair of plates 63 and ,64 are fastened'to the opposite 'sides of the post 53. T hese" plates extend outwardly'fro'm the surfaces of their posts to provide guide surfaces 'to contact mating surfaces in thehousing structure 12 to facilitate vertical Referring now to FIG. .5, "Which is the exploded 'view,

"separate window 128, while a similarrwindow 130 is provided for the post 53. It will be noted that both of these windows 128 and-130 are, in the described embodiment,

separate. from the rnain' window 65in which reside the rolls and 16 but are containedwithin thelimits of the housing structure 12. The spindle 2 6 extends vertically through the housing structure 12 and is connected by 7 gears toa roll. chock positioning screw 86. The screw 1 is provided with threads which engage a threaded nut 8'7 way, the spindle 29 extends vertically adjacent the houslocked in the housing structure. The innerend of the I screw 86 contacts the check 39 to move itlaterally, pass:

ing through an opening in the guide rail 45. In the same ing 12 and is connectedfby aset of gears to a screw -88 which has amating nut' 89. The inrier endof screw 88 :enga'g'es the chock 35 through anopeningin the guide "rail 44. It Willi be understood that a similar set of screws (not shown) driven by spindles 29' and .2 6 respectively will be provided for the actuation of the lower checks '36 and 41.;

of'some of theimportant elements of the mill, there is provided a graphic illustration of the manner in which:

the elements are assembled and disassembled. jThe housing structure'12 slides downwardly'over the posts 52' and 53 o't-the base'13. Then, the guide rails 44 and 45 slide Third chocks' downwardly into the housing structure. I 97,:97a'carrying their respective universal drivefspindles 17 and '18, slide down. the guide rails 44 fand"45 until' stopped byltheuppe'r edge of -w'eb 92 as hereinafter described. The chocks 97 and 97a are thus rigidly attached 1 to the guide rails 44 and '45 and act as supportingshelves at the lower ends, of the guide. rails. Following that, the

chocks and36 with the roll 15 slide downwardly into operativeipositionalog the guide rail 44,,while the. roll- 16 with'its pair'of chocks 39; and 41 slides downwardly -into operative position'al ong the guide rail 45. a t In FIG. 6, which is a plan view of the mill, it can be seen that the upper part of the housing structure: 12 is 7 provided with an elongated rectangular windowj65. The

rolls,15and 16 .are shown mounted, respectively,-intheir a upperchocks 35'and 39. The post 52is shown extending upwardlythrougha roll housing outer window'128. The 7 window 128 isshown as having. finished parallel vertical 7 surfaces which engage the 'platesjj61 and 62 In this view it can be seen that block 66 isinserted atthe, upper end, 'of the slot. 56 and that a bolt 67 holds the post.52' and In ajsimilarwa'y,

block 66. in a rigid' assembled unit.

. the spindle17, it can be seen thatthe spindle is provided at its lower end-with a spher'ical'gearcoupling 95and FIG. Sfshows-the I rail 44 which" isprovided with flanges .73 and 74 whose cross-sectionshapeahas been shown in FIGS. '5, 6 and '7. The guide rail 44 is provided with-.albacking member 91 which joins the rear edgesof the flanges 73 and 74.

The-inner edges of thefianges73 and 74 are joined atthe lower end by a-web j92,and a bottom 93 is joined to the bottornedges of the flanges, backing member and web.

"A -smallfopening 94 is provided in the lower end of the flange 73 torelease water, scale "and the like; Guide 1 rail is constructed in the'same manner as guide rail 44.

In FIG. 9, which shows the elements associated with at its'upperf endwith asimilar 'spher'icalgea'r coupling 96; This coupling 96 is supported from a third chock 97 which is, provided with ears 198 and 99 which in. turn are provided respectively with grooves 101 and 102' exactly similar to the grooves'71and '72 ,formed 'on the chock 35." The configuration of the cars 98 and 99 with their grooves 101 and 102 permits'them to be lowered into and be'slidably engaged by the flanges 73 and 74 of the guide rail '44 in exactly the manner in'which both upperand lower roll'chocks 35 and 36 slide downwardly into'and along the rail. "The motion of the third chock downwardly 'is limited by the engagement-of upper edge 132of the at the other end ofthe housing 12is locatedaroll hous-l' ing outer window 130 in which is located the post 53 here shown provided with a block 68 inserted at the upper end of theslot 57, there being a bolt'69 extending through V the block 68 and post 53 to provide a rigid unit; Window 130 has finished parallel surfaces which engage plates 63 and 64. The upper chock 35 is providedon o'pposite sides with grooves 71 and 72-which', as shownin FIGS}.

Thefianges 73 and'74 are integral with guide rail 44 and' are connected to hydraulic linearactuators- 75 andi76, f '7 the guide rail flanges and: actuators acting onthe chock.

83. Lower chockA-l is provided with grooves (not shown) roll 15.

web 92 withthe undersurface of the third chock 97. In operative conditionyit will be noted thatthe third chock 97 lies underand supportsthe lowercheck 36 of the InFIG. which is a' section'al view through the third .chock 97 on the' line X-rrXO f FIG. 9, it'is' possible to see "the manner i'nwhich the flanges 73 and '74 of the guide rail 44 engage the ears 98' and 99 and reside in the grooves 101? and 1620f the third chock 97. I

-FIG. "11 shows the manner inwhich the roll 15, the lower chock 36, the third chock 97, the coupling 96, and

the spindle 117 are related; The roll 15 is provided with :a roll neck 103' havinga tapered portion 104m which is mounted the sleeve 195 of an oil film'bearing of the type shown and described in the U5. patent'to Dahlstrom,

No. 2,0l'8,055 A'bushing 106 of the bearing is mounted in the lower chock 36in the, usual manner; .The bearing is provided with an upper 'seali 197 to prevent, entrance of foreign matter and isfconnectedto' an oil supply in a simila'r t'o .grooves77 and 78. Similar'hydrauliclinear manner well known in the art, ;At its lower end the bearing is'provided with a thrust-bearing 107. The lower t endof the roll neck 193'is formed with the usual noncircularwobbler, one of the flat faces being shown as at 103, and. this fits into afsirnilarly shapedpocket 108 formed'within aninterrriediatemember 109. The inter-.

rriediatemembehresides in 'a borewithin the third chock specific construction of the guide 97. The intermediate member 169 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 11?; which overlies an inwardly-extending annular flange 112 formed on the inner surface of the third chock. interposed between the flanges 111 and 112; is a roller thrust bearing 113 permitting free rotational movement of the intermediate member 199 within the third chock 97. Suitable scaling is provided at the upper end of the third chock and of the intermediate member to assure that water and foreign matter cannot gain entrance into the third chock. For instance, downwardly-extending annular flanges 113 and 114 are alternated with upwardly-extending flanges 115 and 116 on the upper end of the third chock. The lower end of the intermediate member 199 is fastened to the male member 117 of the spherical gear coupling 96, while the female member is mounted on a coupling box 1 18 which in turn, is fastened to the upper end of the spindle 17.

An electric motor 119, shown in FIG. 1, is fastened to the upper surface of the foundation 11 to operate two interconnected vertical jacks 121 and 122, shown in FIG. 4, to engage the under-surface of the housing structure 12 to move it upwardly and downwardly.

The operation of the rolling mill of the invention will now be readily understood in view of the above description. When assembled in the manner shown in FIG. 1, the operation of the mill is not unlike vertical mills known in the past. Power enters the system through the drive housing 14 and is transmitted through the spindles 17 and 18 (see PEG. 2) to the rolls l5 and 16. Universal movement between the rolls and the spindles for misalignment due to lateral adjustment of the rolls is permitted by the spherical gear coupling $6 as well as the spherical gear coupling 95 at the lower end of the spindle 17. Mis-alignment between the drive housing 14 and the base 13 is'also compensated for since the drive spindles 17 and i8 depend directly from the universal couplings associated with the third chocks which may be positioned a substantial distance above the drive housing. In the case of the spindle 17, the power passes through the spherical gear coupling 96 to the intermediate member N9 and from there to the Wobbler section of the roll 1G3 and thence to the roll 15. Each of the chocks contains an oil film bearing similar to the bearing formed by the sleeve 105, and the bushing 1% of the roll neck 1G3 and the chock 36. Adjustment of the rolls toward and away from one another takes place by energizing the motors 24 and 2.7, seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, thus rotating the spindles 26 and 2 9; this produces horizontal movement of the screwdowns 86 and 83 against the chocks in the usual manner. Vertical movement of the housing structure 12 and the rolls is accomplished by energizing the motor 119 which drives jacks iii and 122. The vertical movement is permitted by splined connections between universal couplings 95 and f st". positioned respectively at the lower ends of the spindles 17 and 18 and the pinions contained in drive housing 14 (see FIG. 5). Attached to the upper chock 35 is roll adjustment means similar to that shown in the patent application of Hill, Serial Number 768,983, filed October 22, 1958 and now US. Patent No. 3,003,836; by this roll adjustment means it is possible to adjust one roll vertically relative to the other to align grooves formed on the surface of the roll. if the chocks 35, 36, 39 and 41 are provided with oil film bearings, these must be supplied with oil. In such case, the oil conduits for these chocks are contained within the corresponding guide rails 44 and 45, although for the purpose of clarifying the description and simplifying the drawings, these conduits have not been shown. It is contemplated that a simple connection between these conduits and the oil passages in the chocks be used to facilitate removal of the rolls and chocks as the rails 44 and 45 remain in the housing. it is important that it be possible to assemble and disassemble the elements of the mill very quickly, since down-time is expensive to the operator of the mill. in

disassembling the mill, the housing structure 12 is moved to its lowest position on the posts 52 and 53 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). This will be accomplished by lowering the jacks 121 and 122.

Referring to P16. 5, when the housing structure 12 has been moved to its lowest position on the posts 52 and 53, it is possible, by attaching a crane to the pivoted links 37 and 38 on the chock 35, and to pivoted links 42 and 43 of chock 39, to withdraw in a single crane lift both rolls 15 and 16 with their chocks 35, 36, 39 and 41. The chocks 35 and 36 will slide along the flanges 73 and 74 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) of the guide rail 44. Similarly chocks 39 and 41 are guided during removal by flanges 79 and 91 of guide rail 45. Incidentally, before removpipe connections to the individual chocks when oil filled bearings are used, and to withdraw keeper plates, a relatively simple operation. If it is only necessary to change the bearings or the rolls, these stepsare all that is needed in disassembly. If, however, it is desired to replace one of the couplings associated with the drive spindles 17, then the spindle 17 and the third chock 97 can be withdrawn as a subassembly by the crane, the third chock 97 being guided in the flanges of the guide rail 44 and the spindle 17 hanging downwardly. The spindle 1S and its associated third chock 97a can be removed in the same way. If further disassembly isdesired, the guide rails 44 and 45 may be removed upwardly readily after disconnecting the hydraulic separators 75, 76, 82, 83, and after moving the rails toward the center of the housing so that the screws 88 and 86 respectively (see FIG. 7) do not extend through the normal apertures formed in the backs 91 of the guide rails. Then, of course, further disassembly can take place by removing the housing structure 12 itself. In any case,'the amount of overhead clearance that needs to be available in the mill building to permit removal of any of these parts is never greater than the height of the housing structure itself; for instance, one can see that the unit presented by the chock 35, the roll 15 and the chock 36 is approximately the same height as the unit presented by the spindle 17 and the third chock 97 and the unit presented by the guide rail 44, each of which is approximately equal to the height of the housing unit 12. Therefore, the mill can be installed in a building having a low roof truss chord and low crane rails and the crane capacity need only be enough to lift the weight of the heaviest single piece or subassembly..

Although the roll guides have not been shown in the drawing, it will be understood that they are to be mounted on the surfaces 58 and 59 of the girder members 54 and 55, respectively. As is particularly evident in FIG. 3, the surfaces 58 and 59 remain well outside of the housing structure 12 so that the housing can be moved up and down, and so that the rolls can be moved sideways and axially without disturbing the guides.

it will be appreciated that the basic concept of having large posts 52 and 53 extending vertically upwardly from the opposite ends of the base 13 and having a strong rectangular construction transversely of the length of the housing structure presents a particularly stable construction. It should be noted that the posts extend upwardly within the body of the housing structure rather than outside of the housing structure adding to the structural stability of the housing structure and permitting successive rolling mill stands to be spaced closely together.

In observing the construction shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,

it is clear that the housing structure 12 resembles two.

housings joined by vertical connecting posts to form a unitary structure and that the window 65 is similar to the window in a horizontal rolling mill. The drawings indicate, of course, that the window 128 and the window 136 in which the posts 52 and 53, respectively, extend are separate from the window 65, but the effect, so far as stability is concerned, is practically the same as would be true if the posts 52 and 53 lay in the ends of thewindow 6 5,

ens gn-a I mounted in the structure and extending through the slots which construction is an obvious alternative; in other words, the posts are inside of the housing structure rather than outside as has been known in the past and the benefits from the, point of view of stability are obvious. Other advantages, of course, are that the'finished surfaces which guide theQhQu sing structure 12 on the posts are covered at all times and liewithin the mill rather than being exposed to. the dirt and scale which are normally found in a steel mill. V i

T he invention having been 'thus described, what. 'is claimed as new and desired'to secure by Letters Patent is: 1 1. A vertical rolling mill, comprising a housing structure having twowindows disp'osed in vertically-spaced. parallel relationship, a pair of roll chocks positioned in each window, a pair of guide'rails extending throughon'e into operative relationship to the cheeks.

5 Avertical rolling mill, comprising a mill housing hav- I ing first and second horizontal elongated windows disposed 1 in verticallyspaced parallel relationship and having first and second vertical 7 windows disposed in horizontally spaced parallel relationship, two pairs of roll chockaeach pair having 'one chock-positionedinsaid first horizontal window and one chock. positioned insaid second horizontal windowptworolls, each roll being journaled in a pair of checks, a base underlying the housing 'and comprisingisupportniembers at opposite ends thereof, posts rigidly atj tached to and extending upwardly from the; said members,

' and two parallel girder members joining the ends of the support members in rigid relationship, the girder members being, located outside the vertical projection of the houswindow and into theothertwindow, one chock of each pair being slidable vertically on'each guide rail for movement into and out of rthe'window, a roll journaled in the chocks carried by each guide rail, adrive spindle extend-.

'in-g'downwardlybeneath each roll, a base underlying the 7 housing structure,;two posts rigidly attached'to' and ex- "tending upwardly from the base, said postsresiding in opposite ends of the housing structure? in small windowsr provided therefor, each post being of generally rectangu said housing.

V vertically spaced parallel relationship, a pair ofroll chocks ing and being adapted to carry guidesjindependently of 6 7 A vertical rolling mill, comprising a mill housing having firstand second large elongated windows disposed in positioned in each of said windows, a pair of guide rails extending from said first window into said second Window,

; said chocks being slidable vertically on said guide rails lar horizontal cross-sectional form and having its larger dimension extending transverselyof the, large windows, I

each post having a vertical slot extending .therethrough'v longitudinally of the. large windows, roll positioning screws mounted in the housing structure and; extending through the. slots intopperatiVe relationship with the chocks, a third chock means 'detachably'joining each third chock to a guide rail, and an intermediate member;rotat-,-

ably carriedby each third chock and serving to: connect the rollto the spindle 2. A vertical rolling mill,- comprising a mill housing having a first window-and asecond window disposed in vertically spaced parallelrelationshipga pair of rollchocks positioned in-e'ach of said'wind'ows, afp'air of guide rails extending through said firstwindow and into said second 7 window, said chocks being slidable vertically on said guide rails respectively for movement into'and out of the said windows, a roll journaled in the chocks carried by each.

guide rail, a shelf in the forinof a third chock slidableon for movement into, and out of the windows, a rolljournaled in the chocks carried by each guide rail, a base underlying the housing, two posts-rigidly attached to and extending upwardly from the base, the posts residing inopposite ends ofthe mill housing insmall windows provided therefor, each post'being of a generally rectangular horizontal cross-sectional form and having its larger dimension extending transversely of the large windows, each post having a vertical slot extending therethrough longitudinally of the windows, isc'rewdowns mou'ntedin the housing extending through theslots into operative relationship with 1 the chocks, a drive spindle extending downwardly beneath each roll, a third 'chock including a universal coupling joining each spindle to its roll in driving relationship, and

7 means detachably joining each third chock to a guide rail.

"'7.'A vertical rolling mill, comprisinga mill housing having first'and second large elongated windows disposed in vertically spaced parallel relationship, a pair of roll chocks positioned in each said'windows, two rolls, each positioned-in each window, a-pairof guide =rails-extend.- ing through said first window and into said'second window,

. said chocks being' slidable vertically on said guide rails j respectively for movement. into and oufof said windows}; a roll journaled in the chocks carried by each" guide rail,

a drive spindle'extendi'ng' downwardly beneatheach roll,

a third chock including a universal coupling joining ,ea'ch spindle to its roll in driving relationship, and means de- .4. A vertical rolling mill, comprising a. substantially tachably joining each third'chockto a' guide rail.

rigid integral mill housinghaving a first elongatedwindow and a second elongated window disposed in vertically] spaced parallel relationship, two pairs of roll chocks, each,

, pair having a first chock positioned in said first window and a second chockpositionedinsaid second window, two

rolls, each roll'being journaled in a said pair of chocks, a

I base'u'nderlying the housing, two posts extending upwardly from thebase, the posts residing at opposite endsof the 'mill housing'in win'dows provided therefor, each post being of generally rectangular. horizontalcross-sectional 1 form and having its larger dimensionextending transverse:

s o s: r I V 83A ,vertical rolling mill comprising a mill housing roll being journaled with one chock. in each window, a base underlying the housing" and comprising two spaced support members; each support'member having a post, the posts residing in opposite ends of the mill housing in' small I 7 windows provided therefon'each post being of generally 3 rectangular' horizontal cross sectional form "and having its larger dimension extendingtransversely-of the large windows, the support members extending transversely of the windows in spaced parallel relationship," a girder member poining each pair; of ends of the support members in rigid relationship, said girder members being located outside'of the vertical projection of the housing and being adapted to carry guidesindependently of the said housing,

each said post .havingi aivertical slot extending therethrough longitudinally ofthe large windows, and roll positioning screws mounted in' the housing and extending through the slots into; operativerelationship ,with the having first' 'andxsecond large elongatedwindows disposed in, vertically spaced parallel. relationship, a pair of roll chocks positioned in' each of said windows, a pair of guide rails extending downwardly through said' first window and into said1second-window,.one chock of each pair being .slidable ver'tically on each guide rail for movement into and out of the said windows; aroll journaled in the ly of the windows, each posthaving a verticalv slot extendc c ing therethrou'gh longitudinally ofthe windowa'and screws chocks'ca'rried by each guide fail, a drive spindle extending .downwardly beneath each roll, another chock'including a universal coupling joining each spindle to itsroll in driving,relationship,'means'detachably joining said last-named chock to a'guide rail, 'a base comprising two spaced support members underlying the housing, a post extending upwardly from each of said support members, the support members extending transversely of the windows in spaced parallel relationship, and girder members joining the ends of the support members in rigid relationship, the girder members being located outside the vertical projection of the housing and being adapted to carry guides independently of said housing.

9. A .vertical rolling mill, comprising a mill housing having first and second large elongated windows disposed in vertically spaced parallel relationship, two pairs of roll chocks, each pair having one chock positioned in each of said windows, a pair of guide rails extending downwardly through said first window and into said second window, the chocks of each pair being slidable vertically on one of the guide rails for movement into and out of the said windows, a roll journaled in the chocks carried by each guide rail, a drive spindle extending downwardly beneath each roll, another chock including a universal coupling joining each spindle to its roll in driving relationship, means detachably joining said last-named chock to a guide rail, a base comprising two spaced parallel support members and underlying the housing, a post rigidly attached to each support member and extending upwardly therefrom,'the posts residing at opposite ends of the mill housing in small windows provided therefor, each post being of generally rectangular horizontal cross-sectional form and having its larger dimension extending transversely of the large windows, each post having a vertical slot extending therethrough longitudinally of the large windows and screwdowns mounted in the housing and extending through the slot into operative relationship with the chocks, and girder members joining the ends of the support members in rigid relationship, the girder members being located outside the vertical projection of the housing and being adapted to carry guides independently of the said housing.

10. A vertical rolling mill, comprising a mill housing having a pair of windows disposed in vertically spaced horizontal parallel relationship, a pair of roll chocks positioned in each window, a pair of guide rails extending through one window and into the other window, one chock of each pair being slidable vertically on each guide rail for movement into and out of the windows, a roll journaled in the chocks carried by each guide rail, a third chock slidable on each rail and extending laterally thereof toward the other rail, each third chock being normally located beneath the roll chock at the lower end of its rail, a drive spindle supported by and depending from each third chock, an intermediate member carried in bearings in each third chock for rotation therein, the lower end of a roll separably connected to the upper part of the intermediate member, the lower part of each intermediate member being connected through a universal coupling to the upper end of the drive spindle.

11. A vertical rolling mill, comprising a mill housing having two windows disposed in vertically spaced parallel relationship, a pair of roll chocks positioned in each window, a pair of guide rails extending through one window and into the other window, one chock of each pair being slidable vertically on each guide rail for movement into and out of the windows, a roll journaled in the chocks carried by each guide rail, a third chock, a drive spindle extending downwardly beneath each roll and supported by means associated with said third chock, means detachably joining each third chock to a guide rail, and an intermediate member rotatably carried by each third chock and serving to connect the roll to the spindle.

12. A vertical rolling mill, comprising a mill housing having a pair of windows disposed in vertically spaced parallel relationship, a pair of roll chocks positioned in each window, a pair of guide rails extending through one window and into the other window, one roll chock of each pair being slidable vertically on each guide rail for movement into and out of the windows, a roll journaled in the roll chocks carried by each guide rail, a third chock slidable on each rail and extending laterally toward the 19 other rail, each third chock being normally located at the lower end of its rail, a drive spindle supported by and depending from each third chock, an aperture in each rail in a position corresponding to each roll chock associated therewith, and a roll positioning screw extending through each aperture for engagement with a roll chock.

13. A vertical rolling mill, comprising a unitary rigid roll housing having vertical and horizontal intersecting passages therethrough, a pair of oppositely disposed facing removable guide rails vertically positioned in said vertical passage, a pair of roll units, each unit comprising a vertical roll and associated upper and lower chocks, means on said chocks of each unit for making slidable engagement with one of said guide rails whereby said roll units can be lowered into operative position on said rails in said vertical passage and aligned with said horizontal passage, a base and means associated therewith for securing said housing thereto, said means comprising two posts at each end of said base, each pair of said posts extending upwardly through said housing between a guide rail and one end of said housing, the upper ends of each pair of posts being rigidly connected by a removable bracing element to provide the equivalent of a onepiece vertically slotted post, and means mounted on said housing and passing through the slotted post for adjusting the horizontal position of the said guide rails and associated roll units.

14. Means for mounting a mill housing of the type adapted to carry vertical rolls therein in a manner to permit vertical adjustment of said housing with respect to a fixed base while precluding appreciable movement of the housing in the direction of or horizontally transverse to the pass line, said means'comprising two pairs of posts fixed to said base and extending upwardly through vertical passages which are within the confines of said housing and in close sliding relation therewith, each said pair of posts being transversely aligned with the rolls when the rolls are operatively positioned in said housing, said posts extending above the top of said housing, a removable block securing together the upper ends of each pair of posts to measurably increase the rigidity of each pair of posts without eliminating the vertical space between said posts therebelow, said vertical space providing a passage through which roll adjusting means may extend.

15. A vertical rolling mill, comprising a supporting base which includes two pairs of fixed vertical parallel spaced posts, the pairs of posts located on opposite sides of the pass line, a roll housing carried by said base and held against horizontal movement by said posts which extend upwardly through suitable vertical passages in said housing, upper and lower windows in said housing between said pairs of posts, two vertically extending removable rail guides in said windows, three chocks removably carried by each rail guide, the bottom chocks carrying drive spindles which extend below said housing, the middle and upper chocks carrying a roll, means for operatively connecting each said roll to its spindle, removable bracing means securing the upper ends of said posts, roll adjusting screws operatively mounted on said housing beyond said posts and extending toward the pass line between said posts to said guide rails, the vertical dimensions of said posts, said housing, said guide rails, said bottom chock and spindle, and said rolls and related chocks being of generally the same order of magnitude whereby all parts may be removed from said base by vertical lifting through a distance only slightly greater than the vertical dimension of the housing.

16. A vertical rolling mill, comprising a base including oppositely disposed vertical posts, a roll housing and vertical rolls supported by said base with said posts extending upwardly through vertical openings in said housing located near the opposite ends of said housing, the said posts fitting snugly within said openings and being sufi'iciently strong and rigid to prevent movement of' said housing in a horizontal direction during operation- 2,083,100 6/ 37 Sheperdson et a1. 8031.1 of the mil-1. v 2,575,231 11/51 OMalley 8031.1

17.'A vertical rolling mill as setforth' in claim 16, r 2,583,844 1(52 Hill et alp 80-311 each said post being vertic ally slottedthrough most of 2,927,488 3/60 Petereit 80-311 its length but connected at the upper end, the, sl ot being '5 1 j E G aligned with a plane passing through the'axes of the rolls; v r 11,920, 8/56 Germany.

References Cited Y Examine WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON,-Primar'y Examiner; UNITED TA PATENTS I 7 WILLIAM'PW. 'DYER', 'JR;, .NEDWIN BERGER, 2,011,686 8/35 7 Mikaelson et a-l 803 1:1' CHARLESW. LANHAM, Examiners. 

1. A VERTICAL ROLLING MILL, COMPRISING A HOUSING STRUCTURE HAVING TWO WINDOWS DISPOSED IN VERTICALLY-SPACED PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP, A PAIR OF ROLL CHOCKS POSITIONED IN EACH WINDOW, A PAIR OF GUIDE RAILS EXTENDING THROUGH ONE WINDOW AND INTO THE OTHER WINDOW, ONE CHOCK OF EACH PAIR BEING SLIDABLE VERTICALLY ON EACH GUIDE RAIL FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF THE WINDOW, A ROLL JOURNALED IN THE CHOCKS CARRIED BY EACH GUIDE RAIL, A DRIVE SPINDLE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY BENEATH EACH ROLL, A BASE UNDERLYING THE HOUSING STRUCTURE, TWO POSTS RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE BASE, SAID POSTS RESIDING IN OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE HOUSING STRUCTURE IN SMALL WINDOWS PROVIDED THEREFOR, EACH POST BEING OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR HORIZONTAL CROSS-SECTIONAL FROM AND HAVING ITS LARGER DIMENSION EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE LARGE WINDOWS, EACH POST HAVING A VERTICAL SLOT EXTENDING THERETHROUGH LONGITUDINALLY OF THE LARGE WINDOWS, ROLL POSITIONING SCREWS MOUNTED IN THE HOUSING STRUCTURE AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE SLOTS INTO OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHOCKS, A THIRD CHOCK MEANS DETACHABLY JOINING EACH THIRD CHOCK TO A GUIDE RAIL, AND AN INTERMEDIATE MEMBER ROTATABLY CARRIED BY EACH THIRD CHOCK AND SERVING TO CONNECT THE ROLL TO THE SPINDLE. 